Jamaican goalkeeper Dwayne Miller is simply grateful to be back on the football pitch doing what he loves doing best, keeping goal.
The 27-year-old, who hails from St Thomas, has been plying his skills in Sweden for the past five years with Syrianska, but the past year and a half have been a literal nightmare, as he was forced to give up what he loves best because of the need for surgery to not just one of his knees, but to both.
“I have been out for a long time as you know with any injury. It is a difficult process, but I have been working for the last eight months, and over the past two months I started playing games, so now I’m at a level where I think I’m game fit and can perform at a high level, so it’s been a long road, but yet I’m grateful because a lot of players after surgery they don’t make it back to the level I’m at right now, so I just have to give thanks and continue to work hard,” revealed the 1.91-metre former Harbour View goalkeeper.
In October 2013, Miller went under the knife in Sweden with the doctor removing loose bones from the left knee. The right knee suffered cartilage damage due to overuse, which needed a long time to heal.
Last year Miller acted as backup to Andre Blake in two of the games when the Reggae Boyz were engaged in friendly internationals in the USA and Europe, even though he was out of contract and had no club at the time.
“I am presently back with my old club Syrianska in Sweden,” explained Miller. “I’ve signed a contract until the summer (July) mainly to give myself some playing time so that I could be a part of this team,” he added. Syrianska are now competing in the second division after being relegated last season.
But the euphoria of his return to the pitch and the Reggae Boyz outfit continue to overwhelm him.
“I have been playing and it feels good even though I’ve been away for so long. Injuries are a part of football and sometimes injuries show you how strong you are.”
So far this season the team has played 13 games and Miller has played in 10 with six clean sheets.
Now the plan is to continue giving of his best whenever he goes out on the pitch. “You always want your career to extend and for you to reach to the highest level possible, so that’s my main intention, to continue growing,” he concluded.